Pope Francis also surprised many by sharing deep reflections on the themes of old age and death. He accomplished this more than two months before he died at the age of 88. In a poignant preface written for Cardinal Angelo Scola’s upcoming book, Awaiting a New Beginning: Reflections on Old Age, the Pope emphasized the “consoling certainty” that death is not the end but rather the beginning of something new. In our own lives, his writings offer guidance on how we each might face old age with calm adaptation and acceptance.
On February 7, that same day, Pope Francis composed his preface to Scola’s book. Look for this book on April 24. In his reflection, he noted, “It is true, one becomes old, but this is not the problem: the problem is how one becomes old.” Whatever the condition of our bodies or minds, he reminds us to accept aging with appreciation. This outlook can make our golden years a positive and rewarding period of life.
The Pope went on to commend Cardinal Scola for taking back the meaning of the word “old.” He stressed that creating a connection to wisdom and experience is what’s needed. He remarked, “Because to say ‘old’ does not mean ‘to be discarded,’ as a degraded culture of waste sometimes leads us to think.” The Pope’s teachings reaffirm the dignity of older persons and invite us to appreciate them as a generative presence within our communities.
Pope Francis called death a “new beginning.” He made the point that those who love begin to live the life of the age to come even in their ordinary lives. He wrote, “It is a new beginning, as the title wisely highlights, because eternal life…is beginning something that will never end.” This perspective offers comfort to those grappling with the loss of loved ones or facing their mortality.
It got even better — the preface that Pope Francis wrote for Scola’s book was released by the Vatican on April 22, just days before Scola died. The late pontiff had spent nearly a month in the hospital, leading up to his death. This announcement caused profound pain and dismay among the faithful and leaders from every continent. It was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. The ceremony was held at St. Peter’s Basilica. After the service, they escorted his body on conveyance to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial. This Principality became the Pope’s dearest possession during his lifelong connection.
In his recent letters, Pope Francis urged us to not be afraid of old age, but welcome it. He stated, “We must not be afraid of old age, we must not fear embracing becoming old, because life is life, and sugarcoating reality means betraying the truth of things.” He urged people to consider aging a time for growth and reflection instead of a regression.
Pope Francis went on to explain that accepting the loss of physical abilities allows one to find fulfilment in old age. He expressed, “If we live this time of life as a grace…old age too becomes an age of life which…is truly fruitful and capable of radiating goodness.”